Beth Norling
Beth Norling's parents met at art school. She grew up in a house full of painting and sculptures from around the world. It was a bit like living in a museum.
Drawing was the family's first language. More often than not things were described with a quick sketch or a diagram rather than words. It's no surprise, then, that Beth feels most comfortable putting her thoughts down as illustrations. 'The words always come later ...' she says.
Beth has been blessed with a very vivid imagination that fills her waking and dreaming moments with plenty of images from which to derive inspiration. Beth's studio contains literally hundreds of reference books covering an enormous and diverse number of subjects, including medieval manuscripts, religious and symbolic artwork and every gardening book ever written ... the list just goes on.
Beth has earned her living solely from drawing. She has illustrated a variety of publications from gardening magazines and textbooks to children's books. Beth now enjoys the freedom of creativity that both writing and illustrating picture books allow. Beth has also painted murals for the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney and hopes to do some real painting soon.
Beth works from her home in the Blue Mountains. She likes walking, gardening, cooking and daydreaming, and finds her two wonderful children a never-ending source of inspiration and distraction!
Books by Beth Norling published by Scholastic include: Little School (2001); Watch Out William! (1998); The Best Pet (1997) and Croc Bait (2003)
Contributors: Cecile Ferguson, Editor Lollipops-What's On For Kids and Scholastic Australia
Reviews
Croc Bait
Leonie Norrington
Illustrated by Beth Norling
Sam is upset by his uncles' decision not to take him fishing. "You're too young", they say, "and might get eaten by a crocodile". But Sean reckons he is old enough and wise enough to go fishing and therefore decides to go to the river all by himself. This excellent story explains to young readers why it is important to obey adults when it comes to being allowed to do something or not. In this instance, it also shows that rules were made with safety in mind and that the consequences in disobeying could have been tragic. The story is narrated with a sense of humour and from a child's point of view . The easy-to-follow narrative style and the fun illustrations make this story appealing to the 5 - 8 age group it is aimed at.
For beginner readers who already have basic reading skills. Omnibus/Scholastic Australia Reviewer Cecile Ferguson
ISBN 1-86291-513-X
Added 09/01/03
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